- Ariel 3
Infobox Spacecraft
Name = Ariel 3
Alt_names = UK 3, UK-E, 02773
Organizations =UK Science Research Council ,NASA
Major_Contractors =
Mission_Type = Atmospheric studies
Satellite_Of =Earth
Launch =May 5 ,1967
Launch_Vehicle = Scout rocket
Decay =December 14 ,1970
Mission_Duration = 43 months
Mass = 89.8 kg
NSSDC_ID = 1967-042A
Webpage = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1967-042A
Semimajor_Axis =
Eccentricity = 0.00800
Inclination = 80.17°
Orbital_Period = 95.69 minutes
Apoapsis =
Periapsis =
Orbits =Ariel 3 was the first artificial
satellite designed and constructed in theUnited Kingdom . it was launched fromVandenberg Air Force Base onMay 5 1967 aboard a Scout launch vehicle. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/5/newsid_2511000/2511263.stm |title='On This Day' for May 5, 1967 - First all-British satellite 'Ariel 3' launched |publisher=BBC News |access-date 2008-03-03] cite web |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1967-042A |title=National Space Science Data Center entry for Ariel 3 |access-date 2008-03-03] Ariel 3 had an orbital period of approximately 95 minutes, with anapogee of 608 km and aperigee of 497 km. It initially spun at 31 rpm for stability, though by the time the Ariel 3 deorbited, it had slown down to a rate of about 1 rpm.Ariel 3 carried five experiments. The experiments measured properties of the
Thermosphere as well as detected "terrestrial radio noise" from thunderstorms and measured large-scale galacticradio frequency noise. Experimental data was recorded on an onboard tape recorder, then later transmitted to waiting observers on Earth. Ariel 3 was also fitted with a series of mirrors to allow easy observation of the satellite. OnOctober 24 1967 the tape recorder abroad Ariel 3 began to malfunction. This restricted observation to real-time operation only. Ariel 3 suffered from a significant power failure in December 1968, restricting the satellite's operation to daylight hours only. The satellite was completely shut down in September 1969. Its orbit decayed steadily until on December 14, 1970 when Ariel 3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere.See also
*
Ariel space programme Notes
External links
* [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1967-042A National Space Science Data Center entry for Ariel 3]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/5/newsid_2511000/2511263.stm "On This Day' for May 5, 1967"]BBC News
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